On top of battling the Bucks the Smoke Eaters also had to battle their parade to the penalty box on Friday night as they fell 5-3 on home ice to their East Kootenay rivals.
It was a fairly even first period, the Bucks held the advantage in shots but they often do when these teams meet, as the Bucks tend to throw pucks in net from everywhere and tonight it definitely worked to their advantage getting a pair of fortunate bounces. Fradette was strong early as the Bucks pressed, his play allowed to the Smoke Eaters to take advantage of a rush the other way as Ridge Dawson sent the pass out for Teddy Lagerback who opened the scoring on the night.
The Smoke Eaters would take a 1-0 lead into the second period where the game got interesting. The Smoke Eaters would lose their captain Coalson Wolford to what was assessed as a five minute major boarding penalty early in in the second period. It took the Bucks some time but they finally get set up and hit twice on the major penalty with Johnny Johnson scoring the first on a shot from the point that hit everything possible on its way to the net. The Bucks then took their first lead minutes later as Kellen Hjartarson found a loose puck in the scramble in front of Fradette to make it 2-1. The Smoke Eaters would strike as soon as the penalty expired though as Cunningham who was serving the major stepped out of the box and fed Brady Hunter for his tenth goal of the year.
Despite the immediate response the Smoke Eaters failures to build off that as the Bucks would score two goals late in the second, both taking deflections that left Fradette scratching his head, specifically the 4-2 goal from AJ Vasko that ended up being the game winner.
In the third the Bucks would take advantage of and early turnover by the Smoke Eater defence as Hayden Gelbard went post and in on Fradette 18 seconds into the third. The Smoke Eaters got one back as Lagerback and Strobel combined for the Smoke Eaters third of the night.
The Smoke Eaters pushed late but couldn’t find another goal to close the gap. They’ll forget this one quickly and refocus for a road game in Cranbrook as they look to exact some revenge against the Bucks.
